Plate-lifter



(No Model.)

s. WATERMAN.

PLATE LIFTER.

No. 424,913. Patented Apr. 1, 1890.

UNITED STATEs SARAH VVATERMAN, OF MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN.

PLATE-LIFTER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 424,913, dated April 1, 1890.

Application filed December 9 1339, Serial No. 338,054. (No model.)

To all whom it incty concern:

Be it known that I, SARAH WATERMAN, of Milwaukee, in the county of Milwaukee and State of WVisconsin, have invented a new and useful Plate-Lifter; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of said invention, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to the letters of reference marked thereon, whicl form a part of this specification.

My invention relates to a device which is intended and adapted for a convenient means for lifting and carrying a plate or dish, especially when the dish or plate is hot or contains warm food material. The device also forms an ornamental handle for the plate or dish when set upon a table or other conspicuous place, and is adapted for converting an ordinary plate into a convenient dish for serving fruit thereon.

In the drawings, Figure l is a view of my complete device as used in connection with a plate and supporting a knife and fork. Fig. 2 is a modified form of my device adapted for use with a dish having vertical or nearly vertical sides. Fig. 3 is a top view of the clip at the lower end of one leg of my device 011 line 3 3 of Fig. 2. Fig.4 is an enlarged View from the inner side of the lower part of one leg of the modified device shown in Fig. 2. Fig. 5 is a view of a portion of the top of my device constructed in modified form, a part being in section to show interior parts.

An elastic wire, preferably of steel, is bent in the form of a bail A, to the extremities of the two legs B B of which are affixed clips 0 C. These clips 0 O are preferably of sheet metal in a recurved or grooved form, the lower part, adapted to pass under the edge of the plate S,being provided with inwardly-extending projections or lugs D D, of greater length than the corresponding projections E E, which extend inwardly above the projections D D. The leg B is secured fixedly in the upper part of the clip 0 between its ends medially, and the outer surface F of the clip is preferably slightly curved to adapt it to fit nicely to the edge of a circular plate. The bail A, including the legs 13 B, is formed of highly-elastic material, and is so constructed that its energy of elasticity is exerted inwardly, whereby the clips 0 O are pressed firmly against the edge of the plate, so that the plate will not escape from the clips without pressing the legs B B outwardly with considerable force.

One or more sockets G G are formed by means of a bent elastic strip of sheet metal secured rigidly to the leg B, which sockets are adapted to receive and hold a knife and fork T T or other article for table use therein. An ornament I is preferably secured to the top of the holder.

In the form shown in Fig. 5 the bail A is constructed in two parts, lapped together con trally and having dovetailed or socketed ends K K, which are held firmly together by the sleeve L, which slides on the bail and allows the two parts to be separated, but holds them rigidly together when about their united ends in the position shown in Fig. 5.

In the modified form shown in Figs. 2 and 4 the lower outer part of each leg terminates in bifurcated ends M M, which bear firmly against the outside of the vertical sides of the dish N, being held thereto by the inward pressure of the elastic bail. To hold this dish with vertical sides more securely, a pad 0, provided with an elastic tang P, is secured through its tang rigidly to the inside of the leg B, and this pad is adapted to bear against the inner surface of the dish. Both the pad 0 and the bifurcated ends M M may be lined with vulcanized rubber R, whereby their adhesion to the dish will be made more strong.

In the modified form shown in Fig. 5, in which the bail is formed in two parts, the sleeve 0 is conveniently moved on the bail by constructing the ornament I integral therewith or affiXed thereto. This form of bail in two parts is desirable where it is more convenient to remove the bail from the dish by separating it into two parts rather than by springing it away from the plate or dish.

What I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-- 1. A removable plate-lifter or bail consisting of a U-shaped elastic metal rod and clips secured rigidly to its free ends, which clips have inwardlyextending lips or projections adapted to receive the edge of the plate or dish between them, the lips having considerable length in the direction of the periphery of the plate or dish, and the bail being constrncted to exert its elastic force inwardly to the free ends of the bail, which bail is 0011- against the edge of the interposed plate or dish, substantially as described.

2. A removable plate-lifter or bail consist- 5 ing of an elastic U-shaped bail formed in two parts secured together, separable medially,

being formed with interlocking socketed ends inelosed in a nicely-fitting but sliding sleeve,

and deeplygrooved clips having eonsid erablc 1o lateral extension endwise and sidewise,allixed strneted to exert its elastic force inwardly against the edge of an interposed plate or dish, substantially as described.

111 testimony whereof I alfiX my signature in 15 presence of two witnesses.

SARAH VATERMAN. lVitnesses:

(I. T. BENEDICT, JAS. B. ERWIN. 

